attachment

attachment

1. the development of strong affectional ties between an infant and a significant other (mother, father, sibling, caretaker); this is a psychological, rather than a biological, process.

2. the initial stage of infection of a cell by a virus, in which the viral envelope finds a suitable receptor on the cell surface, enabling the virus to enter. Called also adsorption.

risk for impaired parent/infant/child attachment a nursing diagnosis accepted by the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association, defined as disruption of the interactive process between parent/significant other and infant that fosters the development of a protective and nurturing reciprocal relationship. Possible causes include inadequacy of the parent or parent substitute (such as anxiety or substance abuse), illness in the child, physical separation, lack of privacy, and others.

at·tach·ment

(ă-tach'ment),

1. A connection of one part with another.

2. In dentistry, a mechanical device for the fixation and stabilization of a dental prosthesis.

3. In psychiatry and psychology, a concept encompassing the strength and style of connectedness in primate relationships.

attachment

Etymology: Fr, attachement

1 the state or quality of being affixed or attached.

2 (in psychiatry) a mode of behavior in which one individual relates in an affiliative or dependent manner to another; a feeling of affection or loyalty that binds one person to another. See also bonding.

3 (in dentistry) any device, such as a retainer or artificial crown, used to secure a partial denture to a natural tooth in the mouth.

attachment

Informatics A file (e.g., in a .pdf, .jpg or other format) that is often sent with an email.MedspeakUK A term of art for a specific post (job) within an educational programme.Psychology A popular term for the emotional bond between people (e.g., infant with primary caregiver; parent with child; husband with wife) or any long-lasting bond that a person develops toward another person or object.

attachment

Psychiatry The behavior of an organism that relates in an affiliative or dependent manner to another object which develops during critical periods of life and can be extinguished by lack of opportunity to relate; if separation occurs before maturation can provide for adaptive adjustment, personality deviation can occur

at·tach·ment

(ă-tach'mĕnt)

1. A connection of one part with another.

2. dentistry A mechanical device for the fixation and stabilization of a dental prosthesis.

attachment

an enlargement of the base of an algal THALLUS by which the plant is anchored to the SUBSTRATE.

at·tach·ment

(ă-tach'mĕnt)

1. In dentistry, a mechanical device for the fixation and stabilization of a dental prosthesis.

2. A connection of one part with another.

attachment

1. state of being attached.

2. a connection which achieves attachment.

attachment plaque

an electron-dense coating of cell membranes in which intermediate filaments are embedded participating in the mechanism of holding cells together.

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